The Israeli military has reported that three soldiers were killed and one was injured during a security operation against smugglers in the Naqab (Negev) desert. The shootings occurred near the Egyptian border, close to the Nitzana/al-Awja border crossing, which is used to import goods from Egypt destined for Israel or the Gaza Strip. The first exchange of fire took place on Saturday morning, with a second clash occurring at noon, in which a third soldier was killed. The Israeli army has stated that the gunman in the second exchange of fire was killed and was dressed in the uniform of an Egyptian border guard. The border has been active between 2004 and 2012, until Israel built a 241km border fence to stop the entry of African refugees and migrants, and armed fighters linked to ISIL (ISIS) who are active in Egypt’s Sinai desert.